-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Chelsea moved quickly to replace the sacked Roberto Di Matteo Wednesday as Rafael Benitez was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season .

The English Premier League side made the announcement on their official website , just hours after the departure of Di Matteo , who had led them to European Champions League glory for the first time earlier this year .

Former Valencia and Liverpool manager Benitez will be thrown in at the deep end , with Chelsea taking on EPL reigning champions and leaders Manchester City Sunday .

`` The owner and the Board believe that in Benitez we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football , who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives , '' read the club statement .

`` The 52-year-old Spaniard is due to meet the players at the training ground in Cobham tomorrow -LRB- Thursday -RRB- , '' it added .

Benitez , who will be the ninth manager under owner Roman Abramovich , has been out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan in December 2010 .

He guided Valencia to two Spanish titles and the UEFA Cup and spent six years at Liverpool , highlighted by their Champions League triumph in 2005 and reaching the final in 2007 .

Former Barcelona manager Pepe Guardiola has been linked with the Chelsea job , but is currently on a year-long sabbatical after leaving the Catalan giants at the end of last season .

Di Matteo , who also won the FA Cup with Chelsea during his brief spell in charge , paid the price for a poor recent run of results , culminating in a 3-0 defeat to Juventus Tuesday which leaves their participation in the knockout stages of this season 's Champions League in considerable doubt .

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Chelsea appoint Rafael Benitez as interim manager until end of the season

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Benitez replaces the sacked Roberto Di Matteo

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Benitez has enjoyed success at Valencia and Liverpool

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Di Matteo departed after 3-0 defeat to Juventus Tuesday